Andrey Chokhov An outstanding Russian cannon and bell master and foundryman. Date of Birth: 01.01.1545 Country: Russia

1. Outstanding Russian Cannon and Bell Master
2. Apprenticeship and Early Career
3. Master Craftsman
4. Bell Casting under Boris Godunov
5. The Tsar Bell
6. Later Bells and Technical Expertise
7. Legacy

Outstanding Russian Cannon and Bell Master

Andrey Chokhov was an extraordinary Russian master cannon and bell caster. Over his 60-year career, he created countless cannons, but only a handful remain today. The frequent invasions of Russian territory by Swedes, Tatars, and Poles prompted the production of cannons for successful attacks, a field heavily supported by Ivan the Terrible.

Apprenticeship and Early Career

Chokhov was born in the Kursk Governorate to a family of townspeople. In his youth, he apprenticed with renowned casters Kashpir Ganusov and Stepan Petrov at the Moscow Cannon Yard. His independent casting began around 1568.

Master Craftsman

Throughout his career, Chokhov crafted numerous cannons, of which 30 are documented. His most famous creation, the Tsar Cannon, remains on display in the Moscow Kremlin. Cast in 1586, this massive weapon weighs 40 tons, fires stone shot of 0.89 m caliber, and measures 5.34 m in length.

Bell Casting under Boris Godunov

Tsar Boris Godunov's extensive church construction project necessitated new bells. Chokhov's expertise earned him the task of casting large bells for this initiative. His first bell adorned the "House of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos and Michael the Archangel" and was later moved to the Moscow Kremlin in the 20th century. Chokhov cast approximately ten large bells, including the "Swan" (10 tons) and the "Godunov" (30 tons) for the Trinity-Sergius Monastery.

The Tsar Bell

Upon Godunov's order, Chokhov recast a bell weighing 2,200 poods, originally crafted by Kashpir in 1550 for the Assumption Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin. The result was the "Tsar Bell," weighing 40 tons and becoming the heaviest bell in Europe. Suspended on a wooden belfry in Cathedral Square, it charmed the populace with its melodious sound from 1600 to 1627. After damage, the bell was entrusted to its 80-year-old creator, who restored it with his apprentices. The renovated bell stood 2.5 m tall and measured 3.5 m in diameter, adorning the Assumption Belfry in the Moscow Kremlin. Its clapper required ten men to swing. Following restorations in 1701, 1760, and 1819, the bell reached a weight of 65 tons.

Later Bells and Technical Expertise

In 1621, Chokhov and his assistants cast four bells for the Ivan the Great Bell Tower. The 100-pood "Deaf" bell remains on display. The "Reut" bell, suspended in the Assumption Belfry, is another remarkable creation of Chokhov's. With its unusually thick walls, it weighs 1,200 poods and measures 2.87 m in diameter.

Chokhov's innovative designs and expertise in casting weapons and bells reveal his brilliance as a self-taught master. For 30 years, he led the Moscow Cannon Yard as its technical director and was the highest-paid craftsman.

Legacy

Chokhov retired in 1621, and his post as "cannon and bell master" was abolished after his death in 1630 due to the high caliber of his students. Their ability to replicate his techniques and pass them down to future generations ensured the continuation of Russian excellence in casting throughout the 17th and 18th centuries.